Middle Ages: The Age of Charlemagne

EQ: How does religion impact culture? Chapter 2: Lesson 4

Home Learning: Define Words & Reading GuideChapter 2, Lesson 4

• Wergild• Ordeal• Clovis (find in reading) • Charlemagne (find in reading) • Carolingian Renaissance (find in reading)

•

New Germanic Kingdoms • By 500 the Western Roman

Empire was ruled by different Germanic groups (“Barbarians”)

• Ostrogoths= Italy• Visigoths= Spain• Anglo Saxon= Britain • Franks= France

The Kingdom of the Franks

• King Clovis • First Germanic ruler to convert

to Christianity• Roman Catholic Church wanted

support of a major ruler • His kingdom expanded from

France to Western Germany • After his death—his kingdom is

divided among his sons (3 major areas)

http://www.history.com/topics/middle-ages/videos/dark-ages-the-franks---clovis-part-i?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

Activity: Geography

• Turn to page. 34-35• 1. Guiding Questions (2): pg. 34.

2. Geography Activity • HINT: Use your “modern-day” European map

to answer question #10 .

Activity: Germanic Society

• Read pg. 35-36 “Germanic Society” • Complete the “Germanic Society” questions.

The Carolingian Empire • In 600-700s the Frankish kings

lost power to chief officers • Pepin—(one of the officers)

took power, united the kingdom, and assume the kingship for him and his family. (New dynasty!)

• Pepin dies and his son Charlemagne becomes king.

Charlemagne and the Carolingian Empire

• Charlemagne (Charles the Great) became king of the Franks in 768 and ruled until 814.

• Charlemagne greatly expanded the Frankish kingdom, creating the Carolingian Empire.

o Counts helped administer the empire by acting as the king’s local representatives.

o Missi dominici ensured that the king’s orders were followed.

• Charlemagne was a fierce warrior, strong ruler, and pious Christian.

• He also worked to promote learning throughout his kingdom.

o Carolingian Renaissance revived interest in the works of the Greeks and the Romans.

o Monasteries played a central role in the cultural renewal.

o Monks copied work of classic Roman/Greek authors

The Carolingian Renaissance

• In 800, the pope crowned Charlemagne Emperor of the Romans.

o The coronation strengthened the idea of an enduring Roman Empire.

o It also symbolized the joining of Roman, Christian, and Germanic cultures.

Charlemagne Roman Emperor

• At its height, Charlemagne’s empire covered much of western and central Europe.

Activity: Charlemagne Watch the following video.

1.Write a one paragraph summary.

2.What was the significance of Charlemagne's coronation in Rome?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4PI8dEWTGE

Read “The Carolingian Empire” 1.What was the importance of missi dominici?

2.What 3 things did Charlemagne bring together when he became Emperor?

3.What were important features of the Carolingian Renaissance?